but not till January 23, 1849, nine months after Mulráj had raised the standard of revolt.
Meanwhile the desertion of Sher Singh and his Sikh troops at Múltán had practically inaugurated the second Sikh rising and war against the British Government, simultaneous as it was with the revolt of Chattar Singh, Sher Singh's father, in the extreme north-west of the Punjab. The Khálsa were now up; but Lahore and the Mánjha were in the hands of the English, and could not become the battlefield; so Sher Sing collected his Sikh army on the Chenáb, to the west, and there awaited the conflict.
The siege of Múltán continued, while Lord Gough, having collected his army, fought the actions of Rámnagar, Sadulápur, and Chilianwála. Though the enemy were defeated in all these combats, so many mishaps and such heavy losses occurred on the English side that they were looked upon as disasters, and by some as virtual defeats. Practically, Gough had throughout been overmatched in artillery. While large bodies of troops and his heavy guns were employed in siege work, his army was still inadequate, especially in artillery, for the field operations needed for the conquest of the country, and he therefore now waited till the Múltán army could join him.
This it did on February 20, 1849, and on the 21st Gough fought the battle and won the overwhelming victory of Gujrát, leading to the pursuit and surrender of the whole Sikh army, and laying the Punjab prostrate before the British power.
